USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) . Argentine navy Espora-class frigate ARA Gomez Roca (P 46). Southern Seas 2010. ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 8, 2010)

100308-N-4774B-748 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 8, 2010)

A helicopter flies over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during Southern Seas 2010.

Southern Seas 2010 is a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker)

100308-N-8822R-067 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 8, 2010)

The guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and the Argentine navy Espora-class frigate ARA Gomez Roca (P 46) perform tactical maneuvering exercises.

Bunker Hill is participating in Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Antwjuan Richards-Jamison)


100308-N-4774B-056 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 8, 2010)

Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) secure an Argentine navy SA-316B Alouette III helicopter during deck landing qualifications.

Bunker Hill is participating in Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker)



100308-N-4774B-741 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 8, 2010)

The Argentine navy Espora-class frigate ARA Gomez Roca (P 46) transits the Atlantic Ocean.

Argentine navy forces are participating in Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker)

El ARA Gómez Roca (P-46) es la 6ª corbeta multipropósito de la Armada Argentina que pertenece a la Clase Espora y fue construido en los astilleros de Río Santiago, situados en Ensenada, Argentina, con licencia y materiales provistos por el astillero Blohm + Voss de Alemania.

ARA Gómez Roca (P-46) is the sixth and last ship of the MEKO 140A16 Espora series of six corvettes built for the Argentine Navy. The ship is the first ship to bear the name of Lieutenant Commander Sergio Gómez Roca, who commanded the Argentine patrol ship ARA Alférez Sobral during the Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas) and died in combat when the ship was attacked by Royal Navy helicopters. Originally the ship was to have been named Seaver after Captain Benjamin Seaver, a US-born naval hero of the Argentine War of Independence.

In response HMS Coventry and HMS Glasgow launched their Westland Lynx HAS.Mk.2/3 helicopters. Coventry's Lynx (XZ242) attacked first, firing two Sea Skua (air-to-surface) anti-ship missiles. One of the missiles narrowly missed the bridge, the second hit Sobral's fibreglass motorboat, injuring the crew of a 20 mm cannon and knocking out the radio aerials.

Twenty minutes later Glasgow's Lynx (XZ247) launched two more missiles. One or perhaps both of these missiles struck the bridge, causing extensive damage. In total the attack killed 8 of the crew — including the ship's captain, Lieutenant Commander Sergio Gómez Roca — and injuring 8. It was escorted back to its home base of Puerto Deseado two days later on 5 May.